Serpentine Romeo

By Black Rapture

Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters, places, and objects belong to Warner Brothers and her majesty J.K. Rowling, Queen of All Literature. (King, of course, being J.R.R. Tolkien! Oh yeah, Legolas is a hottie!)

Chapter Eleven - Bittersweet Symphony

"Hermione?"

A far away voice sounded in her head. As Hermione attempted to open her eyes, the harsh light caused her to close them again. Blinking away the pain, she saw blurry figures moving around her.

"Miss Granger? Poppy, I think she's waking."

"Out of my way, please." There was rustling and a cool, sweet liquid was poured down Hermione's throat. She coughed and her surroundings came into focus. Draco sat in a chair by her side, and a small group was clustered around the foot of her bed. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Professors McGonagall and Snape, Madame Pomfrey, and Headmaster Dumbledore smiled back at her (even Snape looked happy, to Hermione's surprise).

"Welcome back." Draco whispered, kissing her on the forehead. Hermione smiled as she saw Ron shoot Draco a glare. Suddenly, the memories came rushing back to her. Voldemort, the Death Eaters - Lucius.

"What happened?!" Hermione sat up suddenly, and yelped in pain.

"You need to rest, Miss Granger." Madame Pomfrey cautioned. Hermione nodded.

"Everything's fine, Hermione." Harry assured her.

"The Dark Lord is gone and the Death Eaters are dead or in Azkaban." Professor Snape summarized. She glanced up at Draco.

"And your father?" Hermione asked quietly. Draco swallowed.

"Dead." He said numbly, "Killed him myself."

"Oh, Draco, I'm sorry."

"What for? He hurt you, pet." Draco smiled, kissing her softly on the lips.

"Well, we'll just be getting on then." Professor McGonagall announced loudly.

"Mm-hmm." Hermione responded, waving half-heartedly. But they grinned despite themselves as they left the Hospital Wing. The kiss grew more passionate as Hermione pulled Draco onto the bed with her.

"You're not up to it yet, love." Draco sighed, pulling away. Hermione pouted.

"So?"

"I don't want you to be bedridden any longer than necessary."

"I won't mind." She smirked.

"I will." Draco said sternly.

"Fine." Hermione lay back on her pillow.

"How do you feel?"

"Everything hurts." She admitted, "Didn't you get any injuries?"

"Plenty." Draco laughed, "But I'm all healed up. You've been here for a week."

"I missed Christmas!" Hermione shrieked.

"It's not the end of the world." Draco rolled his eyes. She stared at him as though he had grown two heads.

"Yes, it is!" She whined. Draco couldn't resist kissing the pout right off her face. Hermione giggled and sighed contentedly.

"Love you." Draco whispered against her lips.

"Forever and always." Hermione smiled into his kiss.

[-]

Three days later, Hermione was up and about again. She and Draco were cuddled on the couch, watching the flames dance in the fireplace.

"Is your Dark Mark gone?" Hermione asked suddenly. Draco pulled up his sleeve and turned out his arm. Though the serpent and skull were not black anymore, a permanent scar still remained, outlining the symbol of the most feared dark wizard in a century.

"It'll never be gone, love." Draco sighed.

"I'm glad." Hermione said, "I kind of like it." She leaned down and licked his forearm. Draco inhaled sharply before scooping Hermione up in his arms and carrying her to his bedroom, Hermione giggling and laughing.

"Think you're up to it yet?" Draco asked suggestively. Hermione nodded, trailing her tongue along his collarbone. Falling onto the bed with her, Draco ripped Hermione's shirt open with one pull, buttons popping off and onto the floor. Hermione moaned and pulled Draco's mouth to hers, simultaneously ridding him of his shirt and tie. She swirled her tongue around Draco's and sucked it into her mouth. He growled low in his throat and she nipped at his lower lip.

Unzipping her skirt, Draco tossed it to the floor and slid her knickers down her hips. Flipping him over, Hermione removed Draco's pants and straddled his thighs. Kissing a path from his mouth to his navel, Hermione dipped her tongue into his bellybutton, leaving a glistening line from there to the top of his black silk boxers. Divesting him of his last article of clothing, Hermione shrieked as Draco suddenly sat up, pulling her further into his lap.

Draco dipped his head to Hermione's chest, engulfing one bud in his mouth. She moaned as his hand found it's way between her legs, teasing her dampening folds. Releasing her breast, Draco's attentions focused on her neck, biting lightly and sucking until leaving a dark, purple love bite.

Laying her down, Draco positioned himself over her, sliding into her welcoming channel. Hermione wriggled, urging him to go on, as he pushed into her completely, burying himself to the hilt inside her warmth.

[-]

"Still upset about Christmas?" Draco asked as he and Hermione lay sprawled atop his bed.

"Yes – but the disappointment is slightly lessened." She smiled.

"How about a present to cheer you up?" He suggested.

"What did you get me?" Hermione asked.

"Not my present – not yet." Draco responded, "Creevey's."

"Colin?" She asked, puzzled. Draco nodded, reaching over and taking something from the nightstand. He handed her a black, leather-bound volume.

"Just open it." He told her. Hermione pulled back the cover to reveal a moving picture of Draco in the library, sitting in a large green armchair. His hair fell into his eyes and he continuously blew it back. Hermione laughed – but it came out as more of a sob.

"You don't like it?" Draco asked, "I'll hurt Creevey."

"No – good tears." Hermione sniffed, turning the page. It was her and Draco emerging from behind the Galileo tapestry.

"Guess we were right about being stalked." Hermione pointed out. Suddenly, she closed the album and turned to look at Draco, a knowing smile on her face.

"What?" Draco asked warily.

"Where did you hear Def Leppard?" She asked. Draco laughed nervously.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that time you were singing Pour Some Sugar on Me in the shower. That's muggle music. Where'd you hear it?"

"I – well, the thing is – " Draco sighed and got up from the bed. He went over to his trunk and rummaged around before pulling something out and handing it to her. Hermione looked at the CD case with a thoroughly bewildered expression before opening it. Her eyes widened as she took in the rather extensive collection of music. Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, KISS, Aerosmith, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Cyndi Lauper, Pat Benatar, Berlin, and a never-ending list of 80's bands and singers stared up at her.

"Where did you get these?" Hermione asked, still rather floored.

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you." Draco smirked.

"Draco – where did you get these?"

"From a friend."

"A friend who used to be an 80's punk rocker?"

"Yeah, what of it?"

"Do I know them?"

"Yes."

"Are they a friend of your father something?"

"You could say that."

"Wait a second - " Hermione stopped suddenly and looked up at him before collapsing to the floor in giggles.

"What's so funny?" Draco asked.

"They're Snape's, aren't they?" She gasped out. Draco sighed.

"Yeah." He admitted.

"Oh. My. God." She managed between her laughter, "Snape was a punk rocker."

"If you tell him that you know, he'll kill you. And me."

"With the piercings and the hairgel and the nail polish."

"Hermione – I'm serious."

"And – and – eyeliner!! Ahaha!!"

[-]

After Hermione had composed herself, she presented Draco with his Christmas present. Draco started at the business card in his hand.

"Are you serious?" He asked.

"Dead serious." She responded.

"When?"

"Now – get dressed."

[-]

"If anybody finds out about this – especially any Gryffindors – I'm not responsible for my actions." Draco informed her. Hermione just grinned.

"You like it, don't you?" She smirked.

"That's not the point. Let me see yours." Draco responded. Hermione turned around and lifted up her shirt. Draco knelt down and slid her skirt further down her hips. Embedded permanently into the small of her back was a serpent, coiled around a red heart. He placed a small kiss on it before standing back up and turning her around, capturing her mouth. She pushed him away.

"Stop trying to change the subject." She accused. He sighed and unbuttoned his shirt, sliding it down his back. Hermione lifted her hand to his shoulder blade, tracing the lines of the lion that was now inked into his skin.

"What do you think?" He asked.

"I love it." She announced, licking a trail up to his neck and placing a love bite there.

"Now it's time for your present." Draco said, tossing his shirt aside and going to his wardrobe. Draco pulled out a small box and Hermione's eyes widened as she sat down on the edge of the bed. Kneeling before her, Draco opened the box. The ring was a diamond set in a gold band. Surrounding the diamond were two smaller rubies, followed by two emeralds.

"Oh my." Hermione breathed.

"Marry me." Draco whispered.

"Yeah." She nodded, throwing her arms around his neck. Draco pulled away and slipped the ring on her finger. Hermione smiled and pulled him back onto the bed with her.

THE END